September 24, 1984

The problem of sexually transmitted diseases

Sterility in young women in many parts of Africa is quite common and it is one of the serious and very rampant prob- lems that face many young couples. In Ghana, it is the one area where spiritual churches, traditional healers, fetish houses and Mallams make their incomes. This is because in nine out of ten cases, there is the psychological belief that childlessness is a curse traceable to evil spiritual forces and witchcraft. The belief is very strong indeed, and childless couples often pay heavy sums of money for treatment. There are no statistical evidence of the success of treatments, but it can be fairly assumed that about 30% success rate is possible.

However, a public lecture organised by the Society of General Medical Practitioners in Ghana have brought to light one more cause of infertility. A Nigerian Professor of Microbiology, A. Oshoba, delivering the keynote speech on: 'The Changing Pattern of Gonorrhoea and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in West Africa', said that Gonorrhoea and other sexually trans- mitted diseases have been identified as the major causes of menstrual abnormalities and infertility in West Africa.

Prof. Oshoba revealed that about 10% of adult females and between 15% and 30% of adult males have infections associated with several venereal diseases. The eminent Profes- sor added that Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast have very high rates of gonorrhoea and that apart from syphilis and gonorrhoea, over 23 other sexu- ally transmitted diseases are common in the West Africa sub-region. He further advised that by thorough examination and use of prescribed, instead of self-medicated treatments during the early stages of infection, various complications can be avoided.

Professor Oshoba's observations are corroborated by a World Health Organisation Report which actually provides evidence of linkage between in- fertility and sexually transmitted diseases. The WHO Report, authored by world renowned Australian demographers, John and Patricia Coldwell, cites cases in Central Africa where venereal diseases have actually reduced populations dramatically. Various anthropological sources have written profusely about low population levels in Gabon, Zaire and Upper Volta, due to high rates of the incidence of sexu- ally transmitted diseases.

Worldwide, the easy movement of people, and the growth of new and powerful strains of the infection is gradually causing a sort of global epidemic to emerge, already challenging the whole edifice of medical science.

Prof. Oshoba's final advice that people in tropical Africa have to take steps to protect themselves against venereal diseases is a timely reminder.